Fair Value

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value

Note E. Fair Value

Fair value is the price that would be received upon sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The following fair value hierarchy is used in selecting inputs, with the highest priority given to Level 1, as these are the most transparent or reliable.

Level 1 - Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

Level 2 - Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are observable in active markets.

Level 3 - Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs are not observable.

Prices may fall within Level 1, 2 or 3 depending upon the methodologies and inputs used to estimate fair value for each specific security. Prices are determined by a dedicated group within the Investments and Treasury organization, who ultimately report to the Company's Chief Financial Officer. This group is responsible for valuation policies and procedures. In general the Company seeks to price securities using third-party pricing services. Securities not priced by pricing services are submitted to independent brokers for valuation and, if those are not available, internally developed pricing models are used to value assets using methodologies and inputs the Company believes market participants would use to value the assets.

The Company performs control procedures over information obtained from pricing services and brokers to ensure prices received represent a reasonable estimate of fair value and to confirm representations regarding whether inputs are observable or unobservable. Procedures include i) the review of pricing service or broker pricing methodologies, ii) back-testing, where past fair value estimates are compared to actual transactions executed in the market on similar dates, iii) exception reporting, where changes in price, period-over-period, are reviewed and challenged with the pricing service or broker based on exception criteria, iv) deep dives, where the Company independently validates detailed information regarding inputs and assumptions for individual securities and v) pricing validation, where prices received are compared to prices independently estimated by the Company.

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below.

March 31, 2012									Total Assets/(Liabilities) at Fair Value
(In millions)	Level 1		Level 2			Level 3
Assets
Fixed maturity securities:
Corporate and other bonds	$	—	$	20,802		$	486		$	21,288
States, municipalities and political subdivisions	—		10,010			173			10,183
Asset-backed:
Residential mortgage-backed	—		5,547			447			5,994
Commercial mortgage-backed	—		1,224			105			1,329
Other asset-backed	—		655			384			1,039
Total asset-backed	—		7,426			936			8,362
U.S. Treasury and obligations of government-sponsored enterprises	194		42			—			236
Foreign government	124		531			—			655
Redeemable preferred stock	5		55			53			113
Total fixed maturity securities	323		38,866			1,648			40,837
Equity securities	115		109			74			298
Derivative and other financial instruments, included in Other invested assets	—		—			11			11
Short term investments	797		583			—			1,380
Life settlement contracts, included in Other assets	—		—			115			115
Separate account business	5		393			4			402
Total assets	$	1,240	$	39,951		$	1,852		$	43,043
Liabilities
Derivative financial instruments, included in Other liabilities	$	—	$	(1	)	$	(1	)	$	(2	)
Total liabilities	$	—	$	(1	)	$	(1	)	$	(2	)

December 31, 2011								Total Assets/(Liabilities) at Fair Value
(In millions)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets
Fixed maturity securities:
Corporate and other bonds	$	—	$	20,402	$	482		$	20,884
States, municipalities and political subdivisions	—		9,611		171			9,782
Asset-backed:
Residential mortgage-backed	—		5,323		452			5,775
Commercial mortgage-backed	—		1,295		59			1,354
Other asset-backed	—		612		343			955
Total asset-backed	—		7,230		854			8,084
U.S. Treasury and obligations of government-sponsored enterprises	451		42		—			493
Foreign government	92		544		—			636
Redeemable preferred stock	5		53		—			58
Total fixed maturity securities	548		37,882		1,507			39,937
Equity securities	124		113		67			304
Derivative and other financial instruments, included in Other invested assets	—		1		11			12
Short term investments	1,106		508		27			1,641
Life settlement contracts, included in Other assets	—		—		117			117
Separate account business	21		373		23			417
Total assets	$	1,799	$	38,877	$	1,752		$	42,428
Liabilities
Derivative financial instruments, included in Other liabilities	$	—	$	—	$	(1	)	$	(1	)
Total liabilities	$	—	$	—	$	(1	)	$	(1	)

The tables below present a reconciliation for all assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011.

Level 3 (In millions)	Balance at January 1, 2012		Net realized investment gains (losses) and net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) included in net income (loss)*		Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) included in other comprehensive income (loss)			Purchases		Sales			Settlements			Transfers into Level 3		Transfers out of Level 3			Balance at March 31, 2012		Unrealized gains (losses) on Level 3 assets and liabilities held at March 31, 2012 recognized in net income (loss)*
Fixed maturity securities:
Corporate and other bonds	$	482	$	3	$	4		$	79	$	(86	)	$	(19	)	$	33	$	(10	)	$	486	$	—
States, municipalities and political subdivisions	171		—		2			—		—			—			—		—			173		—
Asset-backed:
Residential mortgage-backed	452		1		(4		)	38		—			(7		)	—		(33		)	447		—
Commercial mortgage-backed	59		—		4			42		—			—			—		—			105		—
Other asset-backed	343		4		4			176		(77		)	(25		)	—		(41		)	384		—
Total asset-backed	854		5		4			256		(77		)	(32		)	—		(74		)	936		—
Redeemable preferred stock	—		—		—			53		—			—			—		—			53		—
Total fixed maturity securities	1,507		8		10			388		(163		)	(51		)	33		(84		)	1,648		—
Equity securities	67		—		(3		)	11		(1		)	—			—		—			74		(2		)
Derivative and other financial instruments, net	10		—		—			—		—			—			—		—			10		—
Short term investments	27		—		—			12		—			(39		)	—		—			—		—
Life settlement contracts	117		3		—			—		—			(5		)	—		—			115		(1		)
Separate account business	23		—		—			—		(19		)	—			—		—			4		—
Total	$	1,751	$	11	$	7		$	411	$	(183	)	$	(95	)	$	33	$	(84	)	$	1,851	$	(3	)

Level 3 (In millions)	Balance at January 1, 2011		Net realized investment gains (losses) and net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) included in net income (loss)*			Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) included in other comprehensive income (loss)			Purchases		Sales			Settlements			Transfers into Level 3		Transfers out of Level 3			Balance at March 31, 2011		Unrealized gains (losses) on Level 3 assets and liabilities held at March 31, 2011 recognized in net income (loss)*
Fixed maturity securities:
Corporate and other bonds	$	624	$	4		$	(5	)	$	42	$	(20	)	$	(27	)	$	9	$	(50	)	$	577	$	—
States, municipalities and political subdivisions	266		—			1			—		—			(79		)	—		—			188		—
Asset-backed:																								—
Residential mortgage-backed	767		1			2			47		(26		)	(22		)	—		(31		)	738		—
Commercial mortgage-backed	73		3			16			—		(4		)	—			—		—			88		—
Other asset-backed	359		4			—			200		(87		)	(31		)	—		—			445		—
Total asset-backed	1,199		8			18			247		(117		)	(53		)	—		(31		)	1,271		—
Redeemable preferred stock	3		3			(3		)	—		(3		)	—			—		—			—		—
Total fixed maturity securities	2,092		15			11			289		(140		)	(159		)	9		(81		)	2,036		—
Equity securities	26		(1		)	(1		)	15		(9		)	—			—		—			30		(3		)
Derivative and other financial instruments, net	25		2			—			—		(19		)	—			—		—			8		1
Short term investments	27		—			—			12		—			(2		)	—		(10		)	27		—
Life settlement contracts	129		3			—			—		—			(5		)	—		—			127		(1		)
Separate account business	41		—			—			—		(2		)	—			—		—			39		—
Total	$	2,340	$	19		$	10		$	316	$	(170	)	$	(166	)	$	9	$	(91	)	$	2,267	$	(3	)

* Net realized and unrealized gains and losses shown above are reported in Net income (loss) as follows:

Major Category of Assets and Liabilities	Consolidated Statements of Operations Line Items
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	Net realized investment gains (losses)
Fixed maturity securities trading	Net investment income
Equity securities	Net realized investment gains (losses)
Derivative financial instruments held in a trading portfolio	Net investment income
Derivative financial instruments not held in a trading portfolio and fair value option financial instruments	Net realized investment gains (losses)
Life settlement contracts	Other revenues

Securities shown in the Level 3 tables on the previous pages may be transferred in or out of Level 3 based on the availability of observable market information used to determine the fair value of the security. The availability of observable market information varies based on market conditions and trading volume and may cause securities to move in and out of Level 3 from reporting period to reporting period. There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during the three months ended March 31, 2012 or 2011. The Company's policy is to recognize transfers between levels at the beginning of quarterly reporting periods.

Valuation Methodologies and Inputs

The following section describes the valuation methodologies and relevant inputs used to measure different financial instruments at fair value, including an indication of the level in the fair value hierarchy in which the instruments are generally classified.

Fixed Maturity Securities

Fixed maturity securities are valued using methodologies that model information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets, as well as discounted cash flow methodologies. Common inputs include: prices from recently executed transactions of similar securities, broker/dealer quotes, benchmark yields, spreads off benchmark yields, interest rates, and U.S. Treasury or swap curves. Specifically for asset-backed securities, key inputs include prepayment and default projections based on past performance of the underlying collateral and current market data.

Level 1 securities include highly liquid U.S. and foreign government bonds, and redeemable preferred stock, valued using quoted market prices. Level 2 securities include most other fixed maturity securities as the significant inputs are observable in the marketplace. Securities are generally assigned to Level 3 in cases where broker/dealer quotes are significant inputs to the valuation and there is a lack of transparency as to whether these quotes are based on information that is observable in the marketplace. Level 3 securities also include tax-exempt auction rate certificates and private placement debt securities. Fair value of auction rate securities is determined utilizing a pricing model with three primary inputs. The interest rate and spread inputs are observable from like instruments while the expected call date assumption is unobservable due to the uncertain nature of principal prepayments prior to maturity. Fair value of private placement debt securities is determined using internal models with inputs that are not market observable.

Equity Securities

Level 1 equity securities include publicly traded securities valued using quoted market prices. Level 2 securities are primarily non-redeemable preferred stocks and common stocks valued using pricing for similar securities, recently executed transactions, broker/dealer quotes and other pricing models utilizing market observable inputs. Level 3 securities are priced using internal models with inputs that are not market observable.

Derivative and Other Financial Instruments

Exchange traded derivatives, primarily futures, are valued using quoted market prices and are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. Level 2 derivatives primarily include currency forwards valued using observable market forward rates. Over-the-counter derivatives, principally interest rate swaps, total return swaps, credit default swaps, equity warrants and options, are valued using inputs including broker/dealer quotes and are classified within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy due to a lack of transparency as to whether these quotes are based on information that is observable in the marketplace. Other financial instruments consist of Level 3 securities for which the fair value option has been elected which contain embedded derivatives and are priced using either broker/dealer quotes or internal models with inputs that are not market observable.

Short Term Investments

The valuation of securities that are actively traded or have quoted prices are classified as Level 1. These securities include money market funds and treasury bills. Level 2 primarily includes commercial paper, for which all inputs are market observable. Fixed maturity securities purchased within one year of maturity are classified consistent with fixed maturity securities discussed above. Short term investments as presented in the tables above differ from the amounts presented on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets because certain short term investments, such as time deposits, are not measured at fair value.

Life Settlement Contracts

The fair values of life settlement contracts are determined as the present value of the anticipated death benefits less anticipated premium payments based on contract terms that are distinct for each insured, as well as the Company's own assumptions for mortality, premium expense, and the rate of return that a buyer would require on the contracts, as no comparable market pricing data is available.

Separate Account Business

Separate account business includes fixed maturity securities, equities and short term investments. The valuation methodologies and inputs for these asset types have been described above.

Significant Unobservable Inputs

The table below presents quantitative information about the significant unobservable inputs utilized by the Company in the fair value measurements of Level 3 assets. Valuations for assets and liabilities not presented in the table below are primarily based on broker/dealer quotes for which there is a lack of transparency as to inputs used to develop the valuations. The quantitative detail of these unobservable inputs is neither provided nor reasonably available to the Company.

(In millions, except per share data)	Fair Value at March 31, 2012		Valuation Technique(s)	Unobservable Input(s)	Range  (Weighted Average)
Assets
Fixed maturity securities	$	204	Discounted cash flow	Expected call date assumption	0.5 - 5.5 years (2.2 years)
	$	53	Market approach	Private offering price	$26.5 million per unit
Equity securities	$	69	Market approach	Private offering price	$0.10 - $4,023 per share ($211.01 per share)
Life settlement contracts	$	115	Discounted cash flow	Discount rate risk premium Mortality assumption	9% 65% - 928% (181%)

For fixed maturity securities, an increase to the expected call date assumption or decrease in the private offering price would result in a lower fair value measurement. For equity securities, an increase in the private offering price would result in a higher fair value measurement. For life settlement contracts, an increase in the discount rate risk premium or decrease in the mortality assumption would result in a lower fair value measurement.

Financial Assets and Liabilities Not Measured at Fair Value

The carrying amount and estimated fair value of the Company's financial instrument assets and liabilities which are not measured at fair value on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets are listed in the tables below.

March 31, 2012	Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value
(In millions)			Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Financial assets
Notes receivable for the issuance of common stock	$	23	$	—	$	—	$	23	$	23
Mortgage loans	281		—		—		295		295
Financial liabilities
Premium deposits and annuity contracts	$	108	$	—	$	—	$	112	$	112
Short term debt	83		—		84		—		84
Long term debt	2,526		—		2,794		—		2,794

December 31, 2011	Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value
(In millions)
Financial assets
Notes receivable for the issuance of common stock	$	22	$	22
Mortgage loans	234		247
Financial liabilities
Premium deposits and annuity contracts	$	109	$	114
Short term debt	83		84
Long term debt	2,525		2,679

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of these financial assets and liabilities.

The fair values of Notes receivable for the issuance of common stock were estimated using discounted cash flows utilizing interest rates currently offered for obligations securitized with similar collateral, adjusted for specific note receivable risk.

The fair values of Mortgage loans were based on the present value of the expected future cash flows discounted at the current interest rate for origination of similar quality loans, adjusted for specific loan risk.

Premium deposits and annuity contracts were valued based on cash surrender values, estimated fair values or policyholder liabilities, net of amounts ceded related to sold business.

The Company's senior notes and debentures were valued based on observable market prices. The fair value for other debt was estimated using discounted cash flows based on current incremental borrowing rates for similar borrowing arrangements.

The carrying amounts reported on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets for Cash, Short term investments not carried at fair value, Accrued investment income and certain other assets and other liabilities approximate fair value due to the short term nature of these items. These assets and liabilities are not listed in the tables above.